By Jennifer Acheng
The UPDF 3rd Division Court Martial at Moroto army barracks, has sentenced a 34 years old soldier, Private Echom Richard, to 30 years in prison for attempted murder of his girlfriend Atim Daphine.
Pte Echom, who joined the UPDF in 2016, had already spent 2 years and 4 months on remand.
The open court, heard that Pte Echom, on 24 July 2022 after picking a quarrel with his lover Ms Atim, a resident of cell B senior Quarters in Soroti City, walked away and stole an SMG riffle with 30 rounds of ammunition belonging to his colleague, Pte Joseph Lukwago, of 47 Infantry Battalion, who was at the time deployed in Soroti.
The prosecution led by Major Jeff Ringaketch, stated that the convict then returned to the lover and engaged in a verbal exchange, accusing her of spending over 17 million shillings, having an affair with another man, before shooting the victim on the left knee and the right thigh. After the nasty incident, Pte Echom, escaped but was later apprehended by the UPDF authorities.
Further, presenting four witnesses and following cross examination, the court also heard that the convict called the victim’s sister-Ms Eseate Hellen, while in hiding to cross check whether the victim had died or was still alive at the hospital.
In presenting the sentence, Col. Francis Katereho, the UPDF 3 Division Court Martial chairman, asserted that the sentence serves as a deterrent measure to other would-be offenders.
He stressed that the act of Pte Echom had not only caused grave injuries and disability to a civilian he should have protected but also tarnished the image of UPDF. He also noted that the UPDF does not condone such crimes.
At the time of the incident, Pte Echom was a crew soldier serving under the Anti-Aircraft (AAC) unit based in Nakasongola Cantonment.
